Idling device for electric generating plants



March 4, 1941. L. E. sPRlNKLE IDLING DEVICE FORv ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS Filed Jan, 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 om m INVENTOR- LE STEP E.. Sprinkle ATTORNEYS.

March 4, 1941. l.. E. sPRlNKLE IDLING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS 3 Sheets-SheetI 2 I Filed Jan. 2. 1940 FIG. 4.

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March 4, 1941. L.. E. SPRINKLE 2,234,094

IDLING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS FIGI 9c llJx Q /95 26 x@ E INVENTOR.

I .ES-Er E. Sprinkle BY l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES IDLING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC GENERAT- ING PLANTS Lester E. Sprinkle, Milledgeville, lll. Application January 2, 1940, Serial No. 312,122

15 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to improvements in control apparatus particularly well adapted for use with the engine of an engine-generator supplying electric current to a welding circuit.

'I'he primary object of the invention is to provide improved control apparatus that will tend to maintain operation of the engine of an enginegenerator at a normal working speed even though fluctuations in the electrical load on the generator may occur during a substantially continuous Welding operations separated by relatively short lapses, but which will automatically eiect a reduction in the engine speed after a welding operation is suspended or terminated for a predetermined time interval, and which will also automatically increase the engine speed to normal substantially concurrent with a resumption of welding.

Another object of the invention is to provide control apparatus of the character described having improved means for regulating the time interval during which the welding circuit must be idle in order to effect a reduction in the normal working speed of the engine.

A further object resides in the provision of improved control apparatus of the character described including a governor for maintaining the normal working speed of the engine.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved control apparatus inuenced by the flow of electric current in a welding cable without requiring interruption of the cable between the generator and the work for the purpose of interposing an electrical control device, such as a relay, in the welding circuit.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical control system for an engine-generator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection vwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part ci this specification, and in which drawings-- lFigure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and -partly in vertical section of my improved welding apparatus.

Figures 2 and 3 are views in side and end elevation, respectively, of a control switch preferably forming a part of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a preierred form of time delay apparatus including a rotary ratchet wheel, the same being shown in a semi-advanced position, in readiness to reduce the engine speed t an idling rate.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 4, but with the ratchet wheel in a retracted position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view substantially on the line 8 6 of Figure 4. 5

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of time delay apparatus including a rectilinear ratchet bar.

Figure 8 is a horizontalsectional view substantially on the line 8--8 of Figure '1.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system.

In the drawings, which show preferred and modified forms of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts thruout the several views, A designates an engine provided with a governor B, and driving a generator C, supplying electric current to a welding circuit D influencing a control switch E coactible with either form of engine control apparatus F or F', to reduce the engine speed after an interval of time following discontinuance of the flow of' current in the welding circuit D.

The engine A selected for the purpose of illustration includes a carburetor I0 provided with 25 a throttle valve II and throttle lever I2 for regulating the now of fuel to the engine by way of the intake manifold I5. The crankshaft I6 is provided at its forward end with a pulley Il carrying a fan belt I8.

In the example shown, the governor B includes a housing 20 carrying a drive shaft 2| provided with a drive pulley 22 operated by the fan belt I8. Fixed on the shaft 2l within the housing 2U is a spur gear 23 meshing with a gear 24, pro- 35 vided with laterally extending lugs 25. Pivotally mounted on the lugs 25 are bell crank levers 26 including Weighted arms 21 and thrust arms 28 engaging the annularly grooved head 29 oi a plunger 30 slidably extending thru the housing 40 20. Encircling the plunger 30 between the housing 20 and the head 29 is an expansion coil spring 3| urging the plunger into the housing. Projecting laterally from the housing is a lug 32 pivotally carrying a lever 33 having one arm 34 in the path of travel of the plunger. The other arm of the lever is connected to the throttle lever I2 as by link 36. A contractile coil spring 31 is connected to the arm 34 so as to normally urge the arm 35 into engagement with the plunger.

Connected to the rear end of the crankshaft I 6, as by aI coupling is the armature shaft 4I of the generator C, which may be provided with a .suitable panel 42.

The welding circuit D comprises a pair of cables 55 Il, II extending uninterruptedly from the generator to the welding sone I1, the cable. being electrically connected to the work II at its terminal II. The tree end of the cable II is provided with a holder II for the welding rod II.

Referring to the control switch E, the same includea a laminated base II providing a concave support 4for a section II o! the cable II, and a laminated armature Il pivotally supported on the hase so as to substantially encircle the cable section. In the example shown. the armature is supported by anti-friction bearings II, each inclumng an arm II iixed to and extending outwardly and upwardly from the base, a screw threaded pivot pin II releasably secured in transverselyextending relationto the arm II. asby a lock nut II. and a pivot member I2 iixed to an end o! the armature and receiving the pivot pin II. Disposed intermediate the ends of the base and armature are insulative blocks II. Il including lug portions II, II. Extending between these lug portions is a contractile coil spring I1 provided at one end with a tension adjusting nut II. The insulative block II of the base is provided with an upstanding portiony II carrying a pair oi vertically spaced contacts 1I, 1I,while the block II of the armature is provided with a single contact 12 movable between the contacts 1I, II upon oscillation oi the armature. By turning nut II, the tension ot the spring I1 may be adjusted in order that the armature will be slightly over-n balanced whereby the single contact I2 will normail! engage the uppermost contact 1I. 'Ihe passage o! the welding current through the cable section II will, because of the transverse relation of the laminations 1I, 1I of the base and armature to the axis of the cable section II, create suiilcient magnetic attraction between the base and armature to overcome the strength of the spring I1 and bring the contact 12 into engagement with the lower-most contact 1 I.

Referring now to the engine control apparatus l", shown in Figures i and 4-6 of the drawings, the same may be mounted in a suitable protective housing II provided with a hinged access plate I I Projecting inwardly of the back plate I2 of the housing Is a boss II rotatably supporting an axle II. the screw II and washer II preventing inward axial movement thereof. Freely rotatable on the axle II is a ratchet wheel I1 with its hub portion slidaly the boss II. Fixed on the axle II, as by set screw II. is an arm II provided with a transverse pin II depressible into locking engagement with any one of a series of intracirciunferential openings II in the ratchetv wheel. This arm II carries a iulcrum I2 for a lever II forked at its outer end II for engagement with the pin II at its annularly grooved head II.

The axle II is transversely slotted to accommodate the Inner end II oi the lever II, and is bored to te an expansion coil spring I1 and a push button II, the latter being retained in the bore II as by a transverse pin III en- Illing with a knob III integral with the axle. 'Ihe -arrangement is such that depressing button II will rock lever II to compress the spring 91 and retract pin II from any one of the openings II in the ratchet wheel. This frees the arm II from the ratchet wheel so that the arm may be tun-nedbymanipulation oi theknob III to aposition wherein the pin II, upon release of the button II, will be projected. under the inuence of the spring I1, into locking engagement with a iiiierent opening II. Mounted on the back plate I2 extra-circinnferentially of the ratchet wheel is a nxed abutment III disposed in the path of travel oi the arm II so as to limit retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel in accordance with the setting oi the arm II relative to the ratchet wheel.

Disposed between the ratchet wheel and the back plate I2, and in encircling relation to thel Fixed intramarginally oi.' the ratchet wheel is a stud or crank pin III that projects beyond the rear face of the ratchet wheel. Disposed in the path of travel ci the crank pin I II is the hook end III of a control rod II2, the'end opposite to the hook end being pivotally connected to the throttle lever I2, as shown in Figure 1. This control rod may be slidably supported adjacent its hook end as by a lug Ill on the back plate I2. In order to adjust the length of the control rod II2, the same may be formed of two sections I II, II1, the latter being longitudinally slotted at III and the former carrying a set screw III passing thru the slot III.

Means I2! is provided to advance the ratchet wheel I1 in a clockwise direction. Secured to the back plate I2 is an electric motor I2'I provided with a driving gear I21 meshing with a driven gear I2I carrying an eccentric pin I2I. Pivotally mounted on the eccentric pin |29 is the shank end of a driving pawl III engaging the teeth oi the ratchet wheel I1.

Means III is provided to releasably hold the ratchet wheel I1 against retrograde movement. Secured to the back plate I2 is. an electro-magnet III preferably of the horse-shoe type. and provided with a pivotally mounted amature III. Pivoted at III to the back plate is a holding pawl III, disposed subjacent the driving pawl III and normally engaging the teeth o! the ratchet wheel I1. Extending between the holding pawl III and the armature II1 isa link III arranged to release the holding pawl from the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel upon movement of the armature II1 in response to attraction oi the electro magnet III.

In order to indicate the position of the armature, a pilot light III may be suitably mounted on the back plate I2 and a sight aperture III may be provided in the cover Il of the housing. Secured to the back plate is a pilot light shunt switch |41 comprising an insulative block III carrying a pair oi' normally engaging contact arms III-III, the latter including a portion III disposed in the path of travel of the armature II1, the arrangement being such that closing of the armature will open the contact arms III-III and remove the shunt from the pilot light III.

The electric motor I2I is provided with an automatic cut-oil' switch III comprising an insulative block III, secured extra-circumferentially of the ratchet wheel I1, and a pair oi normally engaged contact arms III, III, the latter including an extension III disposed in the path of travel of a radial projection III extending from the periphery oi' the ratchet wheel, the arrangement being such 4that movement of the ratchet wheel to its advanced position will open the contact arms IBI, III. and thereby cut oi! the motor I2I.

As i'or the modified form o! engine control apparatus F' shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawgenerator C and the Work 48,

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ings, the same comprises a housing |05 including a back plate and an access door |01. Rigidly ilxed in the housing, as by cap screws |00, is an elongate strip I 00 provided with a longitudinal series of screw-threaded openings |10. Removably threaded in one oi the openings |10 is a winged screw |1| provided with an enlarged cylindrical body portion |12 carrying an annular roller |10. A similar winged screw I1 ia is threaded in an opening |10a at one end oi' the series of openings, this screw being provided with a roller Illa. A rectilinear ratchet bar |14 is provided with a longitudinal slot |15 wherein the rollers |13, |13a are disposed. The roller I13a serves as a support and guide for the ratchet bar |14, whereas the roller |13 not only functions as a support and guide but also as an adjustable stop for the ratchet bar |14. Removing the winged screw I 1| to a diiierent opening |10 will of course, vary the amplitude of movement oi the ratchet bar. Adapted to be connected between the ratchet bar |14 and the throttle lever l2 is a control rod l Ila and, in the example shown, this control rod is connected to the ratchet bar |14 by a pin |80 slidably disposed in the slot |15, and constituting a lost motion connection.

The same means |25 that serves to advance the ratchet wheel 81 may be utilized to advance the rectilinear ratchet bar |14, the motor cut-oli switch |55 being automatically opened by a projection 8| preferably integral with the bar. The described means |35 is provided to releasably hold the ratchet bar |14 against retrograde movement. The pilot light |45 and shunt switch |41 are the same as those described in connection with the engine control apparatus F, shown in Figure 4.

Disposed beneath the ratchet bar |14 is a spiral spring |85 having its inner end fixed to a suitable post I 86 carried by the back plate |68, the outer end of the spring being secured to a lug |81 projecting from the ratchet bar. This spring |85 constitutes means urging the ratchet bar to move toward a retracted position.

Referring now to the diagram shown in Figure 9, the Welding circuit D shown in heavy lines in cludes the conductor 45 extending between the and the conductor 46 extending between the generator C and the welding rod i. When the welding circuit is open, contacts iii and of the switch E are engaged, whereby to provide a circuit from the battery 800 to the motor i26 thru conductors ii, i532, switch lli, conductor i93, rnotor |26, and conductors lati and ist. @peration of the motor advances the ratchet wheel of apparatus F, or the ratchet bar of apparatus F', as the case may be, to a position where the switch |55 opens to cut off the motor. Before the motor is disconm nected, however, the lost motion between the ratchet wheel 'l and the control rod i2 of the apparatus F, or between the ratchet bar |14 and the control rod i |2a of the apparatus F', is taken up, and the throttle lever i2 of the engine is moved to its idling position.

When the welding circuit is closed, the armature 51 of switch E will be attracted in a manner to close contacts 1| and 12, whereby to provide a circuit from the battery |90 to the electro-magnet |36, via conductors ISI, |96 shunt switch |41, conductor |91, electro-magnet winding |36, and conductor |95. Energizaton of the electro-magnet will attnact the armature |31 whereby to elevate ythe holding paw-l |39 into engagement with the driving pawl |30, whereby to release both pawls. The shunt switch |41 will also be disconnected whereby to energize the pilot light |45. This pilot light because of its resistance will, upon energization, reduce the now oi current to 'an amount lust sumcient to hold the armature of the electro-magnet |00 in its closed position.- In the case oi' the apparatus'l", the ratchet wheel 01 will move toward its retracted position under the iniiuence of the spring |00, until limited by engagement of the arm 00 with the abutment |05. In the case of the apparatus F', the ratchet bar |14 will move toward its retracted position under the iniluence of the spring |05 until limited by engagement of the roller |10 with an end wall of the slot |15. It will therefore be seen that with the described arrangement, a temporary lapse in a welding operation will not immediately eil'ect a reduction in speed of the engine A, because the driving pawl must ilrst intermittently move the ratchet member 81 or |14, as the case may be. to its advanced position. It will also be seen that the time interval between discontinuance of the welding operation and the reduction of speed of the engine A may be readily varied by regulating the degree of retraction ofthe ratchet member.

Various changes may be made in the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: y

1. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator supplying current .to a circuit, comprising a governor connected to the engine throttle and tending to maintain operation of the engine at a normal working speed, a control member movable between advanced and retracted positions, said control member in its retracted position having a lost motion connection to the engine throttle, said control member being movable into its advanced position to take up said lost motion and maintain operation oi' the engine at a reduced idling speed, and means responsive to opening and closing oi the circuit to move said control member between said advanced and retracted positions.

2. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current to a circuit comprising a governor connected to the throttle and tending to maintain operation of the engine at a normal Working speed, a control member, a lost motion connection between the control member and the throttle for reducing the engine speed below normal upon movement oi said control member into an advanced position, means urging the control member to retract from said advanced position, driving means for advancing the control member, holding means to prevent retraction of the control member, means responsive to the flow oi' current in said circuit to release said holding means, whereby to permit retraction of said control member, and means to actuate said driving means upon discontinuance of the ilow of current in said circuit whereby to move said control member toward said advanced position.

3. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current to a circuit comprising a ratchet member, a lost motion connection between the ratchet member and the engine throttle for reducing the engine speed upon movement of said ratchet member to an advanced position, means urging the ratchet member to retract from said advanced position, a motor, a driving pawl actuable by the motor for advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction of the ratchet member` an electromagnet ior releasing the driving and holding pawls, a source oi current. means responsive to alternate closing and opening o! the circuit to alternately connect the source oi current to the electromagnet and motor respectively, and means to disconnect the motor from the source of current upon movement oi said ratchet member to said advanced position.

4. Control apparatus ior an internal combustion engine driving a generator ior supplying current to a circuit comprising a governor connected to the engine. throttle to normally maintain operation oi the engine at a working speed, a ratchet member, a lost motion connection between the ratchet member and the engine throttle for reducing the engine speed upon movement of said ratchet member to an advanced position, means urging the ratchet member to retract from said advanced position. a motor, a driving pawl actuable by the motor for advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction of the ratchet member, an electromagnet ior releasing the driving and holding pawls, a source oi current, means responsive to alternate closing and opening oi the circuit to alternately connect the source oi current to the electromagnet and motor respectively, and means to disconnect the motor from the source of current upon movement of said ratchet member to said advanced position.

5. Prime mover dynamo apparatus comprising a generator, an engine for driving the generator, current conducting means including an uninterrupted length of insulated cable extending between the generator and an electrical load, and means including a control device disposable in proximity to any desired portion oi' said length of cable and responsive to magnetic characteristics of the current flowing thru the cable for maintaining the normal speed oi the engine.

6. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current comprising a ratchet member, a lost motion connection between the ratchet member and the engine throttle for reducing the engine speed upon movement oi said ratchet member into an advanced position, means urging the ratchet member to retract from said advanced position, adjustable stop means limiting retraction of said ratchet member beyond a predetermined degree, a driving pawl for advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction of the ratchet member, means responsive to the ilow of current to release said holding and driving pawls, whereby to permit said predetermined degree oi retraction of said ratchet member, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance o! the iiow oi welding current whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

7. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current comprising a governor connected to the engine throttle to normally maintain operation of the engine at a working speed, a ratchet member, a lost motion connection between the ratchet member and the engine throttle for reducing the engine speed upon movement of said ratchet member into an advanced position, means urging the ratchet member to retract from said advanced position, adjustable stop means limiting retraction of said ratchet member beyond a predetermined degree, a driving pawl for advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction of the ratchet member, means respon- '1s sive to the iiow oi current to release said holding amo and driving pawls, whereby to permit said predetermined degree oi retraction oi said ratchet member, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance oi the flow oi current whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

8. Control apparatus for an intern'al combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current to a circuit comprising a ratchet member. a lost motion connection between the ratchet member and the enginethrottle for reducing the engine speed upon movement oi said ratchet member into an advanced position, means urging the ratchet member to retract from said advanced position, a driving pawl for advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction oi' the ratchet member, means responsive to the iiow of current in said circuit to release said holding and driving pawls, whereby to permit retraction of said ratchet member, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance of the iiow of current in said circuit whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position,

9. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current to a circuit comprising a governor connected to the engine throttle to normally maintain operation oi the engine at a working speed, a ratchet member, a lost motion connection between the ratchet member and the engine throttle ior reducing the engine speed upon movement of said ratchet member into an advanced position, means urging the ratchet member to retract from said advanced position, a driving pawl for advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction oi the ratchet member, means responsive to the ow of current in said circuit to release said holding and driving pawls, whereby to permit retraction of said ratchet member, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance of the flow oi current in said circuit whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

l0. Control apparatus for an internal combus tion engine driving a generator for supplying current comprising a rectilinear ratchet member provided with an elongate longitudinal slot, a link between the throttle lever and said ratchet member, said link being connected to said ratchet member lor sliding movement along said slot,

said ratchet member being movable between adl vanced and retracted positions, said ratchet member in its advanced position acting on said link to reduce the engine speed for idling purposes, means urging the ratchet member to retract, a driving pawl ior advancing the ratchet member, a holding pawl to prevent retraction oi the ratchet member, means responsive to the flow of current in said circuit to release said holding and driving pawls, whereby to permit retraction oi said ratchet member, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance or the iiow of current in said circuit whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

11. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator ior supplying current comprising a governor connected to the engine throttle for normally maintaining operation of the engine at a working speed, a rectilinear ratchet member provided with an elongate longitudinal slot, a link between the throttle lever and said ratchet member, said link being connected to said ratchet member for sliding movement along said slot, said ratchet member being movable between advanced and retracted positions, said ratchet member in its advanced position acting on said link to reduce the engine 4speed for idling purposes, means urging the member, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance of the rlow of current in said circuit whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

12. Control apparatus for an internal combuston engine driving a generator for supplying current to a circuit, comprising a ratchet wheel provided with a crank pin, a link between the throttle lever and said ratchet member, said link being provided with a hook disposed in the path of travel of said crank pin, said ratchet wheel being rotatable between advanced and retracted positions, and in its advanced position acting on said link, thru engagement oi' the crank pin with the hook, to reduce the engine speed for idling purposes, means urging the ratchet wheel to retract, a driving pawl for advancing the ratchet wheel, a holding pawl to preventretraction of the ratchet wheel, means responsive to the ilow of current in said circuit to release said holding and driving pawls, whereby to permit retraction of said ratchet wheel, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance of the iiow of current in said circuit whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

13. Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine driving a generator for supplying current to a circuit, comprising a governor connected to the engine throttle to normally maintain operation of the engine at a working speed, a ratchet wheel provided with a crank pin, a link between the throttle lever and said ratchet member, said link being provided with a hook disposed in the path of travel oi' said crank pin, said ratchet wheel being rotatable between advanced and retracted positions, and in its advanced position acting on said link, thru engagement oi the crank pin with the hook, to reduce the engine speed for idling purposes, means urging the ratchet wheel -to retract, a

driving pawl for advancing the ratchet wheel, a holding pawl to prevent retraction of the ratchet wheel, means responsive to the flow of current in said circuit to release said holding and driving pawls, whereby to permit retraction of said ratchet wheel, and means to actuate said driving pawl upon discontinuance of the ilow of current in said circuit whereby to intermittently move said ratchet member toward said advanced position.

14. An idling device for electric generating plants of the character including an engine, a governor connected to the engine throttle to normally maintain operation oi' the engine at a working speed, and a generator driven by the engine, said device comprising a control member movable between advanced and retracted positions, a connection between the control member and the engine throttle for reducing the speed of the engine upon disposition of said control member in its advanced'posltion, means urging said control member toward its retracted position. means to hold the control member against retraction, driving means to move the control member toward its advanced position, means responsive to loading of the generator to release said holding means, and means responsive to unloading of the generator to actuate said driving means.

15. An idling device for power plants of the character including an engine, a governor connected to the engine throttle to normally maintain operation of the engine at a working speed, and a load connectible to and disconnectible from the engine, said device comprising a control member movable between advanced and retracted positions, a lost motion connection between the control member and the engine throttle for reducing the speed of the engine upon disposition of said control member in its advanced position, driving means to move the control member toward its advanced position, means to disconnect said driving means upon the arrival oi' said control member in said advanced position, means urging the control member toward its retracted position, means to hold the control member against retraction, means responsive to application ofy said vload to release said holding means, and means responsive to disconnection of said load to actuate said driving means.

LESTER E. SPRINKLE. 

